This Noble M400 on eBay Could be Your Alternative to the Corvette

What fine words haven’t already been said about the vaunted Chevrolet Corvette? It’s a car with history, attitude, and a great big whomp of sonorous V8 power. It is, as many would say, an ideal sports car. But it isn’t for everyone.
For those who desire something truly different and chiefly who don’t mind shopping used, there’s a lesser known auto that could be worth your car-buying buck—the Noble M400.
No, it’s nothing new. The track-tastic M400 has been around since the mid-2000s and even that was an evolution of the Noble M12, which has existed since 2001. Nevertheless, with a curb weight of just 2,500 pounds and an output of 425 hp…it’s an absolute stormer. And with a price that coincides nicely below most modern C7 ‘Vettes, this one’s a rather attractive proposition.
RELATED: Take a Closer Look at the Noble M400 Sports Car
Unfamiliar with the M400? Its heart is a rather unexpected one—a 3.0-liter Ford Duratec V6—not unlike the one you’d find under a ‘90s vintage Ford Taurus. However, these four-valve engines have been outfitted with twin turbos, Roush engine management, upgraded fuel injectors, and more, resulting in a mid-engine sports car that clobbers the 60 mph mark in 3.2 seconds. Yikes.
Foot to the floor, you’ll exit the quarter mile in around 11 and a half seconds, and if you keep it planted you’ll be screaming all the way up to 187 mph. Pretty brisk. You may have to explain what you’re driving at stoplights, however.
Noble Automotive’s current offering is the ballistic M600, which unloads a titanic 650 horsepower from a twin-turbocharged Yamaha/Volvo V8. However, it costs £200,000 (about $313,0000 at today’s rates) and you can’t drive one on U.S. roads…pity.
RELATED: You Can Now Buy a Vintage Shelby Mustang With Twin Turbos
According to the owner, this Noble M400 is the very last one sold in the States by the British firm’s official U.S. importer, 1G Racing, which then went on to revamp the M400 design and create its own Rossion Q1. Purchased in 2009, it was campaigned on track at various events before spilling its oily guts at Road Atlanta. But that wasn’t its end.
Like the Six Million Dollar Man, it was promptly rebuilt—better, faster, stronger—and now it punches out an ever larger 464 horsepower at the wheels, thanks to a new Noble engine. What a looker too.
As far as sports cars go, the Noble M400 remains an unbelievable performer and an even more unbelievable bargain. Is it worthy of your rainy day Corvette cash, though? Perhaps that’s your call.
RELATED: Take a Closer Look at the Rossion Q1 Sports CarFollow @thetirekicker